Since NASA’s initiation of the NEO Observations program in 1998, Near-Earth Object (NEO) surveys have been extremely successful finding more than 90% of the Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) larger than one kilometer and a good fraction of the NEOs larger than 140 meters. The vast majority of NEO discoveries have been due to NASA-supported ground-based telescopic surveys including the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) and Spacewatch near Tucson Arizona, the LINEAR project near Socorro New Mexico, Pans-STARRS1 on Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, LONEOS near Flagstaff Arizona and the NEAT project run by NASA/JPL. Using a near-infrared space telescope in an Earth polar orbit, the NEOWISE project was actively discovering and characterizing NEOs for ten months in 2010 before its cryogens were exhausted. It continued another four months into early 2011 as a post-cryogenic mission. The LONEOS and NEAT surveys have been discontinued and Spacewatch is now primarily a follow-up facility.

The purpose of the organisation is to bring together scientists in the relevant fields of Astrophysics, Astronomy and other related fields to research ways of locating and tracking, deflecting Near Earth Objects (Asteroids, Comets). Meetings from organisations around the world eg: NASA, ESA and other organisations in this field to discuss methods using technology to promote findings from a large range of highly recognised scientists in their field astrophysics ’space mechanics, mathematician, astronomers from around the planet, these professionals with years of expertise will be working on this subject for the benefit of all mankind.

Asteroid Watch is a new NASA website. More modern and interactive blog.

Brief

Asteroid Watch

Is anybody really watching for dengerous asteroids heading to Earth? If Yes - how effective is this asteroid watch? This is what matters to ordinary citizens.